The other thing The Thing has got going for it is a welcome hint of dour Scandinavian sensibility sneaked in by director Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. whenever there's a pause in the unexceptional antics of aliens consuming humans.

While I wish van Heijningen's Thing weren't quite so in lust with the '82 model, it works because it respects that basic premise. And it exhibits a little patience, doling out its ickiest, nastiest moments in ways that make them stick.

Parents need to know that The Thing -- which takes place slightly before the events of 1982's The Thing and includes some of the same events as the original 1951 movie The Thing from Another World -- has lots of strong, gory visual effects with terrifying mutations between humans and aliens. Humans' faces suddenly split apart, with teeth and tendrils bursting from within, and there's lots of shooting and even a gooey alien autopsy. Language is strong (including "f--k" and "s--t") but not constant. Sex scenes aren't an issue, but one character does tell a very dirty sex joke involving a young boy.

Families can talk about the movie's gory violence. What was your reaction? Do you think that's what the filmmakers intended?

Is the movie scary? What made it scary? In general, what's scarier -- the things you see, or the things you don't?

One of the movie's themes is trust. Do you think you would have put more trust in the other characters? Is there any danger in trusting someone in real life?

The good stuff

Messages: The characters suddenly mistrust one another and are willing to take drastic steps -- i.e. commit murder -- at even the faintest suspicion. Despite their close quarters, there's generally a lack of community among them.

Role models: A strong female character takes charge for a little while, but even she shows signs of mistrust, suspicion, and selfishness.

What to watch for

Violence: Very strong, gory special effects. Since the monster is able to copy humans, viewers see characters' faces and bodies ripping apart in odd directions, with teeth and tendrils bursting from within. There are terrifying mutations of human and beast (one with two upside-down heads stuck together). Also, humans shoot everything that moves with guns and flamethrowers. Lots of blood on display, as well as charred ruins of alien bodies and even a gory, gooey alien autopsy scene.

Sex: No sex, nudity, or sexual situations, but the movie starts with a character telling very filthy joke involving a young boy and sex.

Language: "F--k" is used a few times, as well as "s--t." Other words include "a--hole," "hell," "damn," "Jesus Christ" (as an exclamation), "oh my God," and "goddamn."

Drinking, drugs and smoking: The adult characters celebrate by drinking beer and liquor after first finding the creature.

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